Humidifier



Nov. 3, 1964 R. BANKS 3,155,746

HUMIDIFIER Filed July 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R/lYMO/VDB/INKS 6' 140, JM Ma R. BANKS HUMIDIFIER Nov. 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 27,

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United States Patent 3,155,746 HUMIDIFIER Raymond Banks, West Paterson,N.J., assignor to Walton Laboratories Inc, Irvington, N.J.., acorporation of New Jersey Filed July 27, 1962, Ser. No. 212,955 Claims.(Cl. 261-29) out of mechanism involving individually rugged partscapable of ready manufacture and assembly to furnish a humidifieroperating over long periods of time with freedom from all difiiculties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheets of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of theinvention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the humidifier;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the several components of theassembly separated from each other;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 44 in thedirection of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a desirable valve adjustingmechanism.

In these several views, the numeral 5 indicates the pan or base of thehumidifier which provides the liquid reservoir. Supported upon the rimof this pan is cover 6. The latter is provided with one or more outlets7. In turn, disposed above cover 6 is a deflector ring 8, While abovethe latter a member 9, preferably in the form of a truncated cone ismounted. Enclosed within member 9 and supporting the same is anapertured air intake casing 10. Its base is defined by an outwardlyextending flange 11 and a plate 12.

The parts are conveniently supported in proper positions with respect toeach other by providing posts spaced 90 apart. The lower ends of certainof these posts are secured to plate 12 by means of nuts. The posts alsoserve to support the flange portion of casing 10. Additionally, theyextend in supporting relationship with cover 6 as well as deflector 8.Certain of the posts may involve a series of units detachably coupled soas to properly coopcrate with the elements which they support.

Block 14 of vibration absorbing material are conveniently interposedbetween cover 6 and the upper face of flange 11. Member 9 is mounted inany desired manner upon casing 10. With the parts properly arranged asin FIG. 3 it will be apparent that cover 6 is in substantial sealingrelationship with pan 5; a rubber or similar ring 15 being interposedbetween these parts. Also member 9 has its lower edge spaced fromdeflector ring 8. The latter is, in turn, spaced from the upper surfaceof cover 6. Additionally, it is to be noted that deflector ring 8preferably engages the exterior face of casing 10. Also, flange 11 isprovided with one or more openings 16 and cover 6 has an inner edge of adiameter greater than the diameter of casing in the plane of the upperzone of the cover so that an air passage intervenes these parts.

Extending into the base or pan 5 is a water elevating structure. Thispreferably takes the form of a tube 17 having an unobstructed boreextending downwardly to a point adjacent the pan surface. This tubeimmovably sup 3,155,745 Patented Nov. 3, 1964 ports a water distributingdisc 18. The latter is, in turn, encircled by a water-breaking structurein the form of an annular comb or grille 19. To the upper face of disc18 an annular series of supports 20 are secured. These, in turn, extenddownwardly from a plate 21.

It is obvious that when disc 18 and tube 17 are rotated water will bedrawn upwardly through the bore of the latter and distributed over thesurface of plate 18. In such distribution, parts 29 and 21 will be ofassistance. The water will move with substantial velocity and be thrownin the form of a film against the inner face of grille or comb 19.Accordingly, a large amount of the water will pass through the openingsdefined by the latter. Excess water will simply run down the inner faceof the grille or comb and return to the body of liquid within the baseor pan 5.

Disposed within the space defined by casing 10, flange portion 11 andplate 12 is a fan as indicated at 22. It is secured to the shaft .23 ofa motor enclosed within the housing 24. That housing extends into casing16 and is supported in any desired manner against rotation with respectto the latter. The Water elevating and distributing structure asaforedescribed is separate from the air blower or fan 22. It is attachedby, for example, a hub 25 to the lower end of the shaft 23. Plate 12 hasa central opening of a diameter adequate to accommodate the parts.However, the opening will be sufficiently restricted so that there willbe no danger of moisture being drawn upwardly towards the motor.

Plate 12. is. additionally formed with a discharge opening 26. Flowthrough the latter is controlled by a valve. This conveniently. takesthe form of a plate 27 mounted upon a collar 28 maintained againstrotation in any desired manner. That collar is provided with a post 29extending downwardly to have its lower surface ride in engagement withthe face of a cam 30. The cam is supported by a shaft 31 secured at itsupper end to a knob 32 extending beyond cover 6. It is apparent that asthe latter is rotated cam 30 will be similarly moved to raise and lowercollar 28 and plate 27; a spring being conveniently housed in knob 32and acting on post 29 to thrust it against cam 30. Accordingly, thevolume of fluid passing through port or opening 26 may be controlledfrom maximum to a point where no flow occurs.

A preferred and alternative structure for moving the valve plate 27 isshown in FIGURE 5. In that View the same reference numerals have beenused to identify the cover 6, flange portion 11, opening 26, plate 27and knob 32. However, instead of employing a post and cam, a threadedconnection exists between knob 32 and this valve. Thus, the numeral 31'indicates a shaft coupled by threads to plate 27. 32' identifies a fixedmember extending through an opening in the valve to prevent a turning ofthe latter. Accordingly, as knob 32 is rotated, it will cause the valveto shift upwardly or downwardly.

It is to be remembered that the cooling of the motor within housing 24is dependent upon an air flow over the surfaces of the same. Even withplate 27 closing opening 26 this air flow will be maintained. In thisconnection, it will be observed that air flowing from the surfaces ofthe motor housing under the influence of fan 22 will escape through theone or more openings 16 in the flange portion 11 of casing 10. Beyondthat portion it will flow through a space existing between the inneredge of cover 6 and casing 10 and thence between the cover and deflector8.

With the motor operating and the parts properly secured, air will flowas indicated by the arrows around the lower edges of member 9 throughthe openings of casing 10 and between the inner face of the latter andhousing 24. With plate 27 lowered the air will flow through opening 26which is located diametrically opposite the outlet 7. So moving it willpass through the humidifier interior around the grille or comb 19.Simultaneously with this flow, water will be elevated and distributed athigh velocity over the surface of disc 18 and beyond the comb or grille.Therefore, the smaller water particles will be intimately commingledwith the body of air and evenly dispersed throughout the same to remainin suspension as the air flows toward the outlet or outlets.Accordingly, a properly moisture-saturated condition will beestablished.

As valve 27 i partially closed, it will be apparent that the velocity ofair flow between its body and the adjacent surface of plate 12 will bematerially increased. Part of this flow will be in the direction of theWater-distributing structure. Therefore, such air flow as occurs willresult in a saturated condition being created even though the total flowis diminished. Under all circumstances the total of humidified airdischarged may be regulated with nicety.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specificallyaforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction andrearrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A humidifier including in combination a pan providing a reservoir, acover supported upon the rim of said pan, a central opening in saidcover, an air intake casing, a cylindrical portion of said air intakecasing projecting upwardly through said central opening and spaced fromsaid cover, an annular opening provided by the spacing between saidcylindrical portion and said cover, a flanged portion of said air intakecasing beneath said cover, air intake apertures formed in saidcylindrical portion, a deflector ring peripherally projecting from saidcylindrical portion and overlying said annular opening, a conical memberspaced from and overlying said air intake apertures and said deflectorring, a motor supported within said cylindrical portion and spacedtherefrom, a motor shaft projecting downwardly toward said pan, fanblades mounted on said motor shaft within said air intake casing, aplate portion of said air intake casing beneath said flanged portion, awater elevating and distributing means separately secured to said motorshaft outside of said air intake casing and beneath said plate portion,a cover outlet formed in said cover, a flange aperture formed in saidflange portion, a discharge opening formed in said plate portion,adjustable valve means for controlling flow through said dischargeopening, a first air flow path provided by said air intake apertures,said flange aperture and said annular opening, a second air flow pathpast said Water elevating and distributing means, provided by saiddischarge opening and said cover outlet whereby upon rotation of saidmotor shaft the quantity of air flowing in said second air flow path maybe regulated by adjustment of said valve means.

2. A humidifier in accordance with claim 1 in which said cover outletand said discharge opening are in diametrically opposed relationship.

3. A humidifier in accordance with claim 2 in which said dischargeopening and said cover opening lie in substantially the same plane.

4. A humidifier in accordance with claim 1 in which said cover outletand said discharge opening lie in substantially the same plane abovesaid elevating and distributing means in diametrically opposedrelationship.

5. A humidifier in accordance with claim 4 in which said valve meansconsists of a plate which is movable to modify the dimensions of saiddischarge opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,072,031 9/13Rankine -2, 261-91 2,051,841 8/36 Gilbert 26128 2,189,021 2/40 Schury26191 2,638,331 5/53 Herr 261-29 2,984,464 5/61 Herr 261-91 3,044,7527/62 Flury 26l91 3,110,748 11/63 Myklebust 261-91 FOREIGN PATENTS112,218 1/18 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT L. MARTIN, Examiner.

1. A HUMIDIFIER INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A PAN PROVIDING A RESERVOIR, ACOVER SUPPORTED UPON THE RIM OF SAID PAN, A CENTRAL OPENING IN SAIDCOVER, AN AIR INTAKE CASING, A CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID AIR INTAKECASING PROJECTING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID CENTRAL OPENING AND SPACED FROMSAID COVER, AN ANNULAR OPENING PROVIDED BY THE SPACING BETWEEN SAIDCYLINDRICAL PORTION AND SAID COVER, A FLANGED PORTION OF SAID AIR INTAKECASING BENEATH SAID COVER, AIR INTAKE APERTURES FORMED IN SAIDCYLINDRICAL PORTION, A DEFLECTOR RING PERIPHERALLY PROJECTING FROM SAIDCYLINDRICAL PORTION AND OVERLYING SAID ANNULAR OPENING, A CONICAL MEMBERSPACED FROM AND OVERLYING SAID AIR INTAKE APERTURES AND DEFLECTOR RING,A MOTOR SUPPORTED WITHIN SAIC CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND SPACED THEREFROM,A MOTOR SHAFT PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY TOWARD SAIDSAID PAN, FAN BLADESMOUNTED ON SAID MOTOR SHAFT WITHIN SAID AIR INTAKE CASING, A PLATEPORTION OF SAID AIR INTAKE CASING BENEATH SAID FLANGED PORTION, A WATERELEVATING AND DISTRIBUTING MEANS SEPARATELY SECURED TO SAID MOTOR SHAFTOUTSIDE OF SAID AIR INTAKE CASING AND BENEATH SAID PLATE PORTION, ACOVER OUTLET FORMED IN SAID COVER, A FLANGE APERTURE FORMED IN SAIDFLANGE PORTION, A DISCHARGE OPENING FORMED IN SAID PLATE PORTION,ADJUSTABLE VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH SAID DISCHARGEOPENING, A FIRST AIR FLOW PATH PROVIDED BY SAID AIR INTAKE APERTURES,SAID FLANGE APERTURE AND SAID ANNULAR OPENING, A SECOND AIR FLOW PATHPAST SAID WATER ELEVATING AND DISTRIBUTING MEANS, PROVIDED BY SAIDDISCHARGE OPENING AND SAID COVER OUTLET WHEREBY UPON ROTATION OF SAIDMOTOR SHAFT THE QUANTITY OF AIR FLOWING IN SAID SECOND AIR FLOW PATH MAYBE REGULATED BY ADJUSTMENT OF SAID VALVE MEANS.